By Bulawayo Correspondent

THE opposition MDC Alliance has accused the police of a cover-up in the mysterious Thursday raid which recovered 98kgs of gold and some US$4m in cash stashed in suitcases at a Harare property.

National ZRP spokesman, Chief Superintendent Paul Nyathi, confirmed the Borrowdale raid adding that five suspects had been picked up.

The police spokesman did not, however, identify the suspects.

In an interview with NewZimbabwe.com, MDC alliance spokesman for Bulawayo Felix Mafa Sibanda said the failure to name the suspects was suspicious.

“It is surprising that, since the 5 July incident, the Zimbabwe Republic Police are yet to identify the would-be culprits (in a case) of this magnitude,” he said.

“This raised questions over the lack of efficiency, trust and competence in dealing with commercial crimes. Therefore, we as people’s party, the MDC Alliance feel there is something the police are hiding,” said Sibanda.

Chief Superintendent Nyathi indicated that the cash and gold had been confiscated, adding that investigations were ongoing in conjunction with other State institutions.

“Investigations are being conducted in consultation with other relevant State institutions such as the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) and Fidelity Printers,” he said.

The MDC Alliance found the reference to curious.

Mafa Sibanda said his party suspects that the police might be trying to protect “someone who is politically connected”.

“Why refer this glaring theft and externalisation of funds to the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe before full investigations?

“Why that route? We smell a rat here that there is a big fish being protected,” he charged.